Which coolant / antifreeze N52K

e92srb · 02-21-2016, 02:51 PM

I was wondering which coolant I need to use. I hear things ab zerex g-05. Is this a good one?
It's a 07 e92 328xi 3.0 L 6 cyl

Three_thirty_I · 02-21-2016, 05:54 PM

What about just the normal BMW coolant and distilled water (50/50 mix)? I suppose any good equivalent antifreeze that meets BMW specs and protects the hoses and other cooling system components.

e92srb · 02-21-2016, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Three_thirty_I

What about just the normal BMW coolant and distilled water (50/50 mix)? I suppose any good equivalent antifreeze that meets BMW specs and protects the hoses and other cooling system components.

Looking for something not from dealer and already mixed w water

rothwem · 02-22-2016, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e92srb

Looking for something not from dealer and already mixed w water

Any reason in particular? The BMW coolant is pricey, but not THAT pricey, if you get premixed, you're just paying extra for water.

hassmaschine · 02-22-2016, 07:59 AM

a gallon of distilled water is like $1 at the grocery store. a gallon of BMW coolant is what, $20? what are we saving here?

Efthreeoh · 02-27-2016, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

a gallon of distilled water is like $1 at the grocery store. a gallon of BMW coolant is what, $20? what are we saving here?

Two dollars and inducing sleepless nights wondering if the cooling system will now fail, being that all BMW owners are OCD about oil and coolant.

Tom Droze · 02-27-2016, 09:58 AM

Oh the irony. . . I work for O'Reilly Auto Parts so my cost is cost. With that said, I buy my oil at Wal-Mart because their retail price is still cheaper, and BMW approved oil is all the same regardless of where you buy it from. The only aftermarket oil filter I will use is Wix, which we sell, but BMW OEM filters are cheaper than my cost on Wix filters. Coolant (OEM), transmission filter and oil (OEM), distilled water (OEM from Safeway)!

Taskmaster · 02-27-2016, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Droze

Oh the irony. . . I work for O'Reilly Auto Parts so my cost is cost. With that said, I buy my oil at Wal-Mart because their retail price is still cheaper, and BMW approved oil is all the same regardless of where you buy it from. The only aftermarket oil filter I will use is Wix, which we sell, but BMW OEM filters are cheaper than my cost on Wix filters. Coolant (OEM), transmission filter and oil (OEM), distilled water (OEM from Safeway)!

sp1tfire · 02-27-2016, 10:32 AM

Honestly i don't really know if that did any damage to my car. But since 50k (now 145) I had put in Bmw coolant once. Overtime got autozone stuff. Original water pump never failed, but replaced proactively at 110. Couple hoses went bad, but you'd expect that at 145k.
I don't want to believe that these cars are so picky with everything. I try to use good gas, put relatively best mass sold oil(not Motul, but Castrol 5w40). Now maybe there is some proof that regular coolant is somehow not up to standard?
Not advice, just my 2 cents.

Tom Droze · 02-27-2016, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sp1tfire

Honestly i don't really know if that did any damage to my car. But since 50k (now 145) I had put in Bmw coolant once. Overtime got autozone stuff. Original water pump never failed, but replaced proactively at 110. Couple hoses went bad, but you'd expect that at 145k.
I don't want to believe that these cars are so picky with everything. I try to use good gas, put relatively best mass sold oil(not Motul, but Castrol 5w40). Now maybe there is some proof that regular coolant is somehow not up to standard?
Not advice, just my 2 cents.

Honestly, I think the risk is in mixing different types of coolant and not knowing if they are compatible. If the cooling system was completely drained, you could use any quality coolant and you would be okay. As for the water pump, it is my understanding most of the failures are with the electrical portion of the pump and not with the mechanical portion. For me, it comes down to simple peace of mind, which I am willing to pay extra for if need be.

Three_thirty_I · 02-27-2016, 06:32 PM

As far as I know, the BMW spec coolant is supposed to prolong the life of the rubber hoses.

sp1tfire · 02-27-2016, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Droze

Honestly, I think the risk is in mixing different types of coolant and not knowing if they are compatible. If the cooling system was completely drained, you could use any quality coolant and you would be okay. As for the water pump, it is my understanding most of the failures are with the electrical portion of the pump and not with the mechanical portion. For me, it comes down to simple peace of mind, which I am willing to pay extra for if need be.

Makes sense about not mixing different kinds, i did do my flush and then used different brand just because i didn't want to drive 50 miles to bmw (while auto zone was 3 miles away) and then just continued to use it. Its not like its cheaper or something, just always around and premixed.
Another cool thing i just read that some brands/types of coolants mixed together (i.e. orange and blue maybe others too) can turn into gel of some type because of different components that can come into reaction.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Three_thirty_I

As far as I know, the BMW spec coolant is supposed to prolong the life of the rubber hoses.

As far is i understand BMW coolant doesn't prolong life of seals/hoses but it doesn't shorten their life, because it has -phosphate and -silicate free formula as do some other coolants (for example one of Peak coolants in lineup i was getting).
I highly doubt that there is some specially bmw only engeneered secret component that regenerates worn rubber cells.
Either way world wide web suggests - mixing or using wrong coolants can cause damage.
Many coolants have specific instruction whether they can be mixed/used to top off with other types/colors.

Taskmaster · 02-27-2016, 07:23 PM

I thought that BMW coolant had an additive that was for the specific metallurgy (or was it rubber) of the cars? Who knows anymore, but it's such a minor difference in cost.

Three_thirty_I · 02-27-2016, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheAxiom

I thought that BMW coolant had an additive that was for the specific metallurgy (or was it rubber) of the cars? Who knows anymore, but it's such a minor difference in cost.

That's my understanding too. It's not just for BMW, it's apparently the same spec that Mercedes and possibly other car makers insist on using in order to prolong the cooling system components. But yes, who knows? It's not as if BMW have the best reputation when it comes to their cooling systems...

Eagle1oh7 · 02-28-2016, 02:42 PM

I use Zerex. Don't feel like driving to El Cajon for the BMW-labeled stuff. If it's good enough to use in MB, it's good enough for use in BMWs.

e92srb · 02-28-2016, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle1oh7

I use Zerex. Don't feel like driving to El Cajon for the BMW-labeled stuff. If it's good enough to use in MB, it's good enough for use in BMWs.

Which zerex product exact is it? Link? Pic?

Eagle1oh7 · 02-28-2016, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e92srb

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle1oh7

I use Zerex. Don't feel like driving to El Cajon for the BMW-labeled stuff. If it's good enough to use in MB, it's good enough for use in BMWs.

Which zerex product exact is it? Link? Pic?

G-05, I get it at Pep Boys.

F22_Raptor · 03-06-2016, 05:55 AM

Any thoughts on Pentofrost NF? Bought 3.16 quarts from Napa, so i plan to use around 5 quarts of distilled water. 40/60 mix should cool better or should i stick with ol' 50/50?

Tom Droze · 03-06-2016, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F22_Raptor

Any thoughts on Pentofrost NF? Bought 3.16 quarts from Napa, so i plan to use around 5 quarts of distilled water. 40/60 mix should cool better or should i stick with ol' 50/50?

Antifreeze/coolant is actually a very poor conductor or heat, which is not a good thing if want to keep your car running as cool as possible. Your car will actually run cooler on 100 percent distilled water than it will with coolant/antifreeze. The advantages of coolant/antifreeze are for corrosion protection, freezing protection (in cold climate) and for lubrication of the water pump, which I am not certain is really needed with a BMW. Coolant/antifreeze will also raise the boiling point of the water, but I would rather have a fluid that is more capable of dissipating heat. If maximum cooling is your goal, I would use a greater ratio of distilled water to coolant/antifreeze--60/40 or 70/30 in favor of distilled water.

02-21-2016, 02:51 PM	#1
e92srb Private 6 Rep 50 Posts Drives: 2007 E92 328xi Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	I was wondering which coolant I need to use. I hear things ab zerex g-05. Is this a good one? It's a 07 e92 328xi 3.0 L 6 cyl
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02-21-2016, 05:54 PM	#2
Three_thirty_I Lieutenant Colonel 200 Rep 1,834 Posts Drives: '05 E90 330i Manual Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Cape Town, South Africa iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 BMW E90 330i [0.00]	What about just the normal BMW coolant and distilled water (50/50 mix)? I suppose any good equivalent antifreeze that meets BMW specs and protects the hoses and other cooling system components. __________________ BMW E90 330i (M) '05 (His) \| (Hers) BMW E46 320i f/l (M) '03
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02-22-2016, 07:59 AM	#5
hassmaschine Major General 3966 Rep 7,215 Posts Drives: "NBO" 330i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: earth iTrader: (0)	a gallon of distilled water is like $1 at the grocery store. a gallon of BMW coolant is what, $20? what are we saving here?
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02-27-2016, 09:58 AM	#7
Tom Droze Major 413 Rep 1,286 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW 328i (e92) Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona iTrader: (0)	Oh the irony. . . I work for O'Reilly Auto Parts so my cost is cost. With that said, I buy my oil at Wal-Mart because their retail price is still cheaper, and BMW approved oil is all the same regardless of where you buy it from. The only aftermarket oil filter I will use is Wix, which we sell, but BMW OEM filters are cheaper than my cost on Wix filters. Coolant (OEM), transmission filter and oil (OEM), distilled water (OEM from Safeway)! __________________ 2012 Jet Black 328i Coupe / ESS Tuning Gen. 2 Supercharger / Evolution Racewerks Oil Cooler / BMS Oil Catch Can / BMW Performance Exhaust with Dinan Y Pipe / Eibach Pro Kit Springs / Koni FSD Shocks / MFactory LSD & Differential Bushings / Performance Rear Trailing Arms / BMW Performance Strut Brace / Stop Tech Slotted Rotors / Hawk HPS 5.0 / SS Brake Lines / Brass Guide Pins / M3 Front Control Arms, 28 MM FSB, Engine Cowl, and DCT Paddle Shifters / Michelin PSS / APEX ARC-8
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02-27-2016, 10:32 AM	#9
sp1tfire Private First Class 19 Rep 150 Posts Drives: F10 535i Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Woodland Park, CO iTrader: (1)	Honestly i don't really know if that did any damage to my car. But since 50k (now 145) I had put in Bmw coolant once. Overtime got autozone stuff. Original water pump never failed, but replaced proactively at 110. Couple hoses went bad, but you'd expect that at 145k. I don't want to believe that these cars are so picky with everything. I try to use good gas, put relatively best mass sold oil(not Motul, but Castrol 5w40). Now maybe there is some proof that regular coolant is somehow not up to standard? Not advice, just my 2 cents.
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02-27-2016, 06:32 PM	#11
Three_thirty_I Lieutenant Colonel 200 Rep 1,834 Posts Drives: '05 E90 330i Manual Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Cape Town, South Africa iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 BMW E90 330i [0.00]	As far as I know, the BMW spec coolant is supposed to prolong the life of the rubber hoses. __________________ BMW E90 330i (M) '05 (His) \| (Hers) BMW E46 320i f/l (M) '03
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02-27-2016, 07:23 PM	#13
Taskmaster Banned 2465 Rep 9,004 Posts Drives: M235i 6MT / E92 328 Msport 6MT Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Florida iTrader: (6)	I thought that BMW coolant had an additive that was for the specific metallurgy (or was it rubber) of the cars? Who knows anymore, but it's such a minor difference in cost.
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02-28-2016, 02:42 PM	#15
Eagle1oh7 Lieutenant Colonel 287 Rep 1,710 Posts Drives: '11 328i Sedan Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Chula Vista CA iTrader: (0)	I use Zerex. Don't feel like driving to El Cajon for the BMW-labeled stuff. If it's good enough to use in MB, it's good enough for use in BMWs. __________________ DONE: Seibon CF Hood, M3 Rep, MSport rear w/DD CF Diffuser, M3 Rep Skirts, Seibon CSL trunklid, Forgestar F14 18s w/Michelin PSS, Eisenmann catback, AA Headers, BPC Stage 2, Charcoal Delete+revMotor+AFE Drop In filter FUTURE MODS: LED headlights, CF rooftop, M3 Suspension Conversion, Dinan CAI Mod
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03-06-2016, 05:55 AM	#18
F22_Raptor Lieutenant 118 Rep 424 Posts Drives: 2008 328i Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Touring CA iTrader: (0)	Any thoughts on Pentofrost NF? Bought 3.16 quarts from Napa, so i plan to use around 5 quarts of distilled water. 40/60 mix should cool better or should i stick with ol' 50/50?
	Appreciate 0 Quote